Brittney Griner's triumphant return after dramatic detention in Russia
Representatives of the United States in basketball clinched victory after an exciting game against the French. Brittney Griner celebrated her third consecutive success. A few years ago, the American experienced a real horror, being unjustly imprisoned.
Undeniably, representatives of the United States can boast the largest medal haul. The basketball players significantly contributed to the Americans' success by defeating the host team by just one point in the final game on the last day of the Olympics. That point turned out to be - literally - worth its weight in gold.
American Olympic champion served a sentence for 10 months
Among the Olympic champions' team was 33-year-old Brittney Griner. It was her third appearance at the most significant sports event in the world. The taste of hard-earned victory in Paris brought her the greatest joy so far and undisguised tears of emotion.
The American athlete has recently experienced very tough times. On February 17, 2022, she was detained at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. During a search of her luggage, border services found e-cigarettes with cartridges containing cannabis oil. Despite possessing only trace amounts and having a doctor’s prescription for its use, the basketball player was accused of attempting to smuggle drugs.
Brittney Griner was sentenced to 8 years in a penal colony. She was sent to a labor camp where conditions were extremely harsh, with forced long hours of hard labor. Moreover, prison services significantly restrict inmates' access to basic hygiene products and medical care.
Ultimately, the athlete returned to her homeland after 10 months. Amid a massive scandal, she was released as part of a prisoner exchange accomplished through successful negotiations by President Joe Biden with Russian authorities. Six months later, she appeared on the court for the first time. During the post-game conference, she made a heartfelt confession.
Brittney Griner recounted with deep emotion how she felt completely trapped in Russia, unable to endure the situation yet powerless to change it. These experiences profoundly shifted her perspective on life, making her appreciate everything more. She emphasized the uncertainty of the future, noting that you can never be sure if tomorrow will come or what it might bring.
The basketball player can boast many individual and team achievements. Since 2013, she has played for the Phoenix Mercury, with whom she secured first place in the WNBA league a year later.
